SYNOPSIS: Etgar, a troubled man, wonders what his life could have been. Parallel Universes follows a downtrodden man named Etgar who contemplates what his life could have been. He often thinks about the lives he could have led and the loves he missed out on.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: Having been a long time fan of movies, Josh Smith moved to Los Angeles when he was 22 to try and get a foot in the door in the film industry. Now with a few short films under his belt Josh hopes to make a name for himself as a director. Having enjoyed his experience in the first Louisiana Film Prize with his top 20 short film “Biggo,” Josh is excited to come back for this year's competition.

DIRECTOR Q&A

What sparked your creativity to make this film?
When I decided to make this movie I was in a dark place, this was a good outlet for me at the time. I identified with the main character a lot, so there is a good portion of myself that comes out through the lead.

What do you hope audiences to take away from your film?
I think this film gives a look inside the mind of someone who feels like they don’t fit in, someone who feels that there is no happy ending for them. I hope that “Parallel Universes” makes people notice the quiet, withdrawn person in their life and maybe reach out to them and make them feel accepted.

Where in Shreveport-Bossier did you shoot and why did you select that/those locations?
We moved around a lot on this movie. A few of our locations were the downtown library, Millennium Studios, the Vallian Arabian Horse Ranch, Holy Roller Skate Park, Rhino Coffee, Deli Casino and Maxwell’s Market. I chose these locations because they are all beautiful locations with lots of character and rich texture. Additionally, they are all great local companies that do a lot for Shreveport/Bossier, and that was important to us as well.

What was the most exciting day on set? Why?
I really enjoyed the first night we filmed. It was just me, our producer Camille Calvin and our lead actor Thomas Woodruff. We shot at Deli Casino on Kings Highway. We were buying props and makeup at the drug store across the street 20 minutes before we were supposed to meet at the location. I was running across the street with a camera and tripod slung over my shoulder like a crazy person to get a wide shot. The gracious owners of Deli Casino made us sandwiches. I could feel everything coming together with almost no crew or equipment. We were at the mercy of the universe and the film was leading us as much as we were leading it, it was a very pure filmmaking experience.

I’ve heard independent film is a tough business. Is the Louisiana Film Prize a good resource for an independent filmmaker? If so, why?
The Louisiana Film Prize is a great resource for independent filmmakers. The city of Shreveport opens it’s arms to you as you make your film, and in this industry that is a rare occurrence. The Film Prize staff is extremely supportive and is always there to help you along the way. Because of these things you do not need a ton of money to make a great movie come to life.